Socially Responsible Resourcing & Diversity
"Win-Win" Solutions to challenging Resourcing Issues!
Corporate image is a critical influence when clients are selecting a contractor for a project and a positve corporate shop window may be the difference between winning and coming second. Huge sums are spent by businesses to ensure all boxes are ticked and that Social Responsibility, Diversity and Equality of Opportunities is front and centre in the view being portayed to the world. However making this a reality can be challenging and in some cases requires a cultural shift at all levels of a business. Number 8 understands how those cultural or perception issues can be a sticking point for change and we're happy to have informal conversations with stakeholders to address the challenges and provide assistance or even just a positive message around the personal and commercial benefits that can be achieved.
Number 8 is actively working to provide Construction and Demolition training/accreditation for Entry Level workers to the following groups:
- Ex-Offenders (Post release and Day release on licence ROTL)
- Military Service leavers
- Women into Construction and Demolition roles
- Disabled workers into approprate roles on site
Ex-Offenders
UK Prisons are full of men and women who have made some poor decisions and are realising the consequenses with the loss of freedom. In many cases this is a cycle that has been a repetative influence on their lives. It has been clearly demonstrated that the most effective way to break thatcycle of offending is to introduce meaningful and sustainable work opportunities that provide a positive focus and a view towards something that could be a long term career that provides stability.
Number 8 has established strong relationships with a number of prisons and justice department bodies as well as training providers, to prepare hand selected leavers for demolition or construction work when they finsh their sentence. CCDO and other training is now avaialble both internally and and externally prior to release. Our experience to date could not have been more positive. These individuals are desperate to make some positive changes and very grateful for a genuine opportunity to show that they are not defined by previous mistakes.
Some already have previous relevant experience to build on, and with either refresher or new training they can pick up and provide much needed skills to these industries. In many cases we are training individuals who are new to these arenas, but are motivated by the opportunity and very keen to prove they are capable of making a positive change that will impact on them and their families.
Military Service Leavers
There is no doubt that Ex-Military operative can provide a skilled and hugely effective pool of workers for almost any industry. Construction and Demolition are ideal environments for these trained and disciplined individuals to transition the skills they have aquired during their military training.
Women into Construction
There has been a significant and very welcome growth of the number of Women electing to go into the Construction and Demolition sectors and their impact has been realised immediately. There are major contributions being made across all arenas which have obliterated any notion that these were not environments only suited to males.
At Number 8 we are pushing to expand opportunities for Women into the blue collar roles where we consider the only barrier to be unfounded perceptions and a lack of confidence born out of historic and cultural norms. There is no physical boundaries that would stop a woman operating heavy plant or manouvering a tower crane around a site. Equally roles like Traffic Marshal, labouring and any number of site based activities should be made available to anybody willing to train, turn up and put the work in.
Number 8 does not recognise any barriers that would preclude placing a woman of equal skill into any role and will do everything we can to promote opportunities.